TIME flies when you’re having fun. And the annual knockabout fun which is my Ever-Pool selection is now in its 10th year.

TIME flies when you’re having fun. And the annual knockabout fun which is my Ever-Pool selection is now in its 10th year. So you all should know the drill by now.

I pick a highly personal team of Everton and Liverpool players based purely on performances in the calendar year 2012 – and you abuse me for my selections.

And to repeat the decision which always causes most ire, it’s Ever-Pool, not Liverton, because E comes before L in the alphabet, and the name has a pleasing four letter split.

That’s the phonetic reasoning.

The tactical ‘reasoning’ behind some of my selections may be more difficult to defend. But I’ll let you be the judge of that.

So without any further ado....

GOALKEEPER

FOUR to choose from, but none have enjoyed vintage years. Pepe Reina’s usual impeccably high standards which have seen him named in every team since Nigel Martyn hung up his gloves, slipped a little in 2012.

Brad Jones and Alex Doni enjoyed respectable, but unspectacular cameos, while Tim Howard
was the only man in either squad to play in every single match his team contested in the calendar year – but not without the occasional mishap. Howard made 47 appearances, Reina 44 – and both kept 14 clean sheets. Not a vintage year for goalkeeping, but Tim Howard just gets the edge – surprisingly for the first time – by virtue of slightly greater consistency.

RIGHT-BACK

He’s only played 23 games in 2012 at right-back, but that’s because Glen Johnson’s
versatility means he’s been equally at home on the opposite flank. But Johnson has been a Rolls Royce performer in a defence which occasionally looked more Morris Minor. And throughout he has oozed attacking class – and that old myth about him not being a good enough defender is just that, a myth. Across the park Phil Neville, Seamus Coleman and Tony Hibbert all saw either injury or loss of form end their chances.

LEFT-BACK

If Glen Johnson was imperious in 2012, Leighton Baines
was regal, authoritative, commanding, supremely consistent and utterly, utterly outstanding. The best left-back in the country, in a country which still boasts Ashley Cole, and one of the best chance creators in Europe. Saw off a concerted challenge from Jose Enrique.

CENTRE-BACKS

Martin Skrtel enjoyed an outstanding 2012, where he even found a hitherto-hidden eye for goal to add to his robust and resilient defensive qualities – including one vital strike in a cup final. All Daniel Agger needed was consistency of appearance to add to his Hansen-esque qualities, and he found that in 2012. Phil Jagielka’s early season dip marred an otherwise excellent year, while one Wembley howler blotted Sylvain Distin’s copybook.

RIGHT MIDFIELD

Raheem Sterling was a neon-bright performer, but like a firefly only flitted onto the scene in August. Kevin Mirallas was similarly incandescent, but again illuminated the Goodison firmament all too briefly. For the right midfield spot I’ve gone for a performer whose consistency throughout the year, down the right, left and centre, was such that he earned an England call-up at the age of 31 – Leon Osman
.

CENTRE MIDFIELD

Not as tough a call as you’d imagine. Lucas Leiva has been injured for much of 2012, Joe Allen not as impressive as his manager would have us believe. Jonjo Shelvey has been impressive in flashes, but my two picks have been consistent throughout the year.

Quite simply Darron Gibson’s
influence cannot be overstated. When he plays, Everton rarely lose. Injury restricted his appearances in 2012 to 23 starts – but Everton lost just two, and one of those saw him limp off after 19 minutes. Now who to partner him?

Injury meant that Steven Gerrard
endured a 2011 from hell, but in 2012 he was back and made 47 appearances. Some say his influence is not as enormous as it once was, but he still scored a first Anfield derby hat-trick for nearly 80 years, captained his team to a League Cup triumph and was one of the few England performers to impress at Euro 2012. Still a class act, he’s still Ever-Pool’s captain.

LEFT MIDFIELD

A tough call. Steven Pienaar
showed Evertonians just what they had been missing during his sabbatical in London, but only from August. Jose Enrique was often excellent – but only for half a year. Stewart Downing was in, and out, then back in again, while we haven’t seen enough of Fabio Borini to show if he could even be considered a wide-left player. Everton’s South African creator’s 19 appearances in 2012 is just about enough to edge him in.

STRIKERS

Luis Suarez
spent the first eight games of 2012 suspended – and still scored 23 goals in the calendar year. His demeanour divides opinion, but his quality is unquestionable, and he walks into the Ever-Pool team. But who to partner him?

Nikica Jelavic’s year was split into two contrasting halves – and if the second half of the year (six goals from August to December) was anything like as prolific as the first (11 goals from March to May), he’d have walked in. But it wasn’t, which saves me a difficult decision. Marouane Fellaini
was always going to waltz into the team, but central midfield would have necessitated a tough call between Gibson and Gerrard, so the Belgian comes in at the position he has excelled in since August.

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The Editor

Alastair Machray

Alastair Machray was appointed editor of The Liverpool Echo in 2005 and is also editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. He is a former editor of The Daily Post (Wales and England) and editor-in-chief of the company's Welsh operations. Married dad-of-two and keen golfer Alastair is one of the longest-serving newspaper editors in the country. His titles have won numerous awards and spearheaded numerous successful campaigns.